Plea deal reached in Mon Bijou shootout

ST. CROIX — A 20-year-old involved in a shootout in Mon Bijou in February 2009 entered a plea agreement earlier this week that released him for time served — 13 months and one day, court documents show.

Blaine Gerard was 19 years old on Feb. 11, 2009, when gunfire erupted on the streets of Mon Bijou, sending many residents running for cover. No one was injured, but a number of homes were damaged by gunfire.

In the aftermath, police found an AK-47, two shotguns and a large cache of ammunition behind bushes at several homes, but made no arrests that day.

Gerard was arrested in a pre-dawn raid on March 26, involving more than 50 law enforcement officers. Four others were arrested with Gerard at the time and two others were arrested on later dates.

Four of those charged with being involved in the shootout were members of the Javois family: Michael Javois, Theresa Javois, Michael Javois Jr., and Akeem Javois.

Also charged were Martin Isildore and Aswald Forde.

Gerard faced charges of first-degree reckless endangerment, possession of a firearm while committing a violent crime and unlawful possession of a firearm.

In the plea agreement, Gerard pled guilty to the reckless endangerment charge. The court dismissed the other two charges with prejudice.

He was sentenced to time served — totaling 400 days from the time of his arrest — and ordered to pay $75 in court costs.